Opinion: An open letter to students regarding the walkout

The ideas represented within this article are opinions in nature and are solely that of the author. They may not wholly reflect the stance of The Forest Scout newspaper as a publication.

Dear Fellow Students,

Quite frankly, I am utterly disappointed by the numerous students who are refusing to participate in the upcoming walkout on Wednesday, March 14. I am writing this article in light of seeing copious Facebook posts explaining that individuals would like to honor the lives of those tragically lost their lives in the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, but in doing so it would go against their support for the second amendment.

I’m calling your bluff on that one. That, in my opinion, is completely misguided–and honestly–is very much a selfish act. Even if you are in support of the second amendment, which is fine, I would strongly encourage you to participate in this 17-minute walk out to honor the 17 victims who perished at the hands of a violent school shooter. This walk out is not a protest against the second amendment. Rather, it is honoring those who have died. Don’t we honors those who die every Veterans day with assemblies and sometimes a days off from school? Don’t we attend funerals after a loved one passes? Don’t we honor the dead in every aspect of life? We attempt to carry on their legacy in quotes, or reminders, or even by channeling some of their spirit. Why can’t we all honor these high schoolers that are in so many ways just like us? Why can’t we make a collective decision as a student body to honor the dead, just like we do for other events?

I understand that everyone has their own reasons for participating if they choose to, but nobody should be discouraged by other’s reasonings, especially if they are rooted in political discourse. Not all of us are on the same page politically, and that is more than okay. In fact, that freedom of opinion is what makes our country so strong, but we should certainly all participate in tomorrow’s event in order to show our love, our understanding, and our sympathy for those who were viciously attacked. I have been personally affected by the Parkland Shooting and am going to honor the lives of the victims with passion and honor.

I will be out there for the children and teachers who were killed. I am not out there to protest gun violence or Donald Trump or anything along that thread. Everyone has varying political views, as I mentioned prior, but nobody deserves to be shot in a place where they are supposed to feel safe. The people who were murdered in a heinous fashion deserve to be honored by our entire country, but especially their peers. In my opinion, it is not the right place to make a political statement. Make tomorrow about people, not politics.

Elisabeth Domittner &nbspis a senior at Lake Forest High School. She enjoys playing field hockey and lacrosse for the Scouts Varsity team in both sports. She grew up in an internationally-minded family with an Austrian father who instilled in her a love for traveling. She is also a musician who plays guitar and sings in her free time. You can find the majority of her articles under In Music and In LFHS.